Sam Weller
conductor
Artistic + Music Director: Ensemble Apex
About
Sam Weller is a conductor based in Sydney and Amsterdam, dedicated to sharing his passion for orchestral music with the wider world.
In 2016 Sam founded Ensemble Apex, which has been hailed as ‘one of the most exciting new ensembles on the Sydney scene’ (Limelight Magazine). The orchestra creates exceptional orchestral music moments for newcomers and seasoned concert-goers alike. Apex has presented sold-out seasons since 2016, highlights include Bela Bartok’s Miraculous Mandarin at Sydney Town Hall, Rhapsody in Blue with Simon Tedeschi and most recently, Strauss’ Eine Alpensinfonie. 2022 see’s the orchestra present a new production of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem.
“Ensemble Apex are next level - taking music performance in Australia to new heights with a thrilling blend of blistering virtuosity, studied finesse, generous warmth and youthful exuberance.If this is the future of music in Australia - then we are in excellent hands!”
Nigel Westlake - Composer - 2021
“Weller’s orchestra is one of the most adventurous in Sydney, performing with a maturity beyond its years under concertmaster Anna Da Silva Chen, aiming for an audience that is looking for something other than the conventional concert hall experience.”
Steve Moffat - Limelight Magazine - 2022
Sam is currently enrolled in the prestigious National Masters of Orchestral Conducting in The Netherlands studying with Ed Spanjaard, Jac Van Steen, Kenneth Montgomery OBE and guest professor Antony Hermus. After relocating to Amsterdam in 2020, he shortly made his Dutch debut with internationally renowned cellist Pieter Wispelway alongside the Amsterdam Score Collective. Through his involvement in the NMO, Sam has conducted many of the Netherlands’ professional orchestras including; The Netherlands Philharmonic, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Residentie Orkset (The Hague Philharmonic), Nederlands Kamerorkest, Philharmonie Zuid Nederlands, Het Ballet Orkest, Sinfonia Rotterdam and also worked with the singers of The Dutch National Opera Academy. Prior to his studies, Sam appeared in international masterclasses with some of the world's leading conductors including; Paavo Jarvi and David Zinman.
In Australia Sam has worked with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Sam was the Associate Conductor of Sydney Youth Orchestras after touring with them to the UK in 2019. Sam graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2019 studying a Bachelor of Music Performance majoring in saxophone and has toured internationally with his former saxophone quartet Luxum Saxophone Quartet.
“With this, his debut appearance with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, he has put an indelible stamp in his already impressive international credentials ‘passport’. ”
Clinton White - Limelight Magazine - 2022
“This isn’t intended to be a review, but I should mention that the performance, conducted with complete authority by Sam Weller, was remarkably good.”
Andrew Ford - Composer and Writer - 2022 (after Verdi’s Requiem)
Footage
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More Videos
...In Print
click the title to read moreVerdi Requiem - Sydney Morning Herald
Verdi Requiem - Andrew Ford
Verdi Requiem - Limelight Magazine
Canberra Symphony Orchestra - Limelight Magazine
Canberra Symphony Orchestra - Canberra City News
Orchestrating Change - Sam Weller - Limelight Magazine
UPCOMING
- MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED -
JAN
Symphonic Orient - PHION
rehearsal conductor
Australian Conducting Academy - Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
FEB
World Pride Festival 2023 - Sydney Youth Orchestra
Music Director and conductor
Tickets
MARCH
Australian Conducting Academy - Western Australian Symphony Orchestra
Ensemble Apex 2023 Season - Coming Soon
APRIL
Gulda Cello Concerto in PARADISO - Amsterdam
w/ Floris Mijnders (Munich Philharmonic)
MAY
Die Zauberflote - Opera2Day
Family Concerts - PHION
G.Mahler - Symphony No.1
JUL
Die Zauberflote - Opera2Day
De La Mar Theatre, Amsterdam
AUG
Last Night at the Proms - Willoughby Symphony Orchestra
Australian Conducting Academy - Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
SEP
Australian Conducting Academy - Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Die Zauberflöte - Opera2Day - National Tour
OCT
Die Zauberflöte - Opera2Day - National Tour
PAST
JAN ‘22
Masterclass - Lorenzo Viotti - Netherlands Philharmonic
J. Brahms - Symphony No. 2
Nederlands Viool Concours - Residentie Orkest
A. Berg - Violin Concerto
E.W. Korngold - Violin Concerto
Assistant to Bas Wiegers
FEB ‘22
Masterclass - PHION
Carmen - Irish National Opera
G. Bizet - Carmen
Assistant to Kenneth Montgomery
MARCH ‘22
Carmen - Irish National Opera
G. Bizet - Carmen
Assistant to Kenneth Montgomery
APRIL ‘22
Masterclass - Noord Nederlands Orkest
D. Shostakovich - Symphony No.5
Masterclass - Lorenzo Viotti - Netherlands Philharmonic
P. Tchaikovsky - Symphony No.4
M. Ravel - La Valse
MAY ‘22
Messa da Requiem - Residentie Orkest
G. Verdi - Messa da Requiem
Assistant to Anja Bihlmaier
Metamorphosis - Noord Nederlands Orkest
G. Verdi - La Forza Del Destino Overture
S. Barber - Violin Concerto x Hannah Solveij Gramß
P. Hindemith - Symphonic Metamorphosis
Tickets
JUNE ‘22
Pieter Rolf Jeudgconcerten - Noord Nederlands Orkest
Various Repertoire, touring throughout June
Tickets
Composers Stipendium - Radio Filharmonisch Orkest
to be broadcast nationally later this year
SEP ‘22
War and Peace - Canberra Symphony Orchestra
R. Strauss - Metamorphosen
M. Williamson - Piano Concerto No.2
L.v.Beethoven - Symphony No. 3
Tickets
OCT ‘22
Parisian Rhapsody - Willoughby Symphony
C. Saint Saens - Danse Macabre
C. Debussy - Premiere Rhapsody x Oliver Shermacher
A. Chance - World Premiere x Oliver Shermacher
G. Faure - Requiem
MASS - Ensemble Apex
G. Verdi - Messa da Requiem
ensembleapex.com
NOV ‘22
Sydney Conservatorium of Music - European Tour
alongside Roger Benedict
Manchester, London, Leipzig, Berlin
November 21 to December 2
Schumann - Symphony No.4
Kodaly - Dances of Galanta
Hindson - Saxophone Concerto x Amy Dickson
Clifford - Interior Landscapes
